Have You Checked Google Calendar and Gmail’s New Look?
Although Google+ launch has been the story dominating the headlines when it comes to news related to Google products, there have been some other important developments – mainly related to design changes of some Google products – that haven’t gathered enough attention.
Like, the Google navbar, that appears on top of almost all Google product pages and has links to different Google services and account settings, had its color changed from white to black as you can see in the screenshot below.
Google also introduced a major design change for Google Calendar and previewed Gmail’s upcoming new look.
Both the new designs mainly include an enhanced usage of white color in various parts of the user interface, and a cleaner look. Some links have been converted to icons too.
The following screenshot shows the new look of Google Calendar. Most of you should have got this by now. The “day”, “week”, “agenda” tabs on the top have been converted to rectangle shaped icons, or buttons.
The design certainly looks a lot more clean and elegant.
When it comes to the new look of Gmail, I am not sure if I like it as much as I liked it in Calendar. Google is currently urging users to test drive the upcoming changes by implementing two new themes – Preview and Preview (Dense) from the Themes tab that you can find in your Gmail settings. As you see in the image below, the design changes are similar to what has been implemented in Google Calendar.
What do you think? Do you like the new Google Calendar and Gmail?
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I call it “the more wasted space look”
I’ve been using Gmail’s “Preview Dense” sine it came out a few days ago. I immediately was prepared to not like it, but I actually love it! It’s true to Google’s simplistic design and it just looks fresher and more modern.
I only hope that other Google services like Google Voice, Picasa Web, etc. soon adopt the same look.
I think Google is doing the right thing by updating and tweaking their look every so often. Not unlike cars, clothes and hairstyles, it’s always a good idea to update your look. Kudos!
the new desing is nice but not userfriendly… and too much useless space…
The calendar is too bright (too much white) and needs some more contrast. The same can be said for the new gmail. I doubt I will use either until they begin to include new themes or ways to change the colors. The design is excellent! But the colors (or lack thereof) strain the eyes
I do like the new gmail design. It looks professional, and the edit bar now scroll with the pages is a nice touch. I do agree with viteez on the calendar design. Unlike gmail, The calendar uses more space and the color has no contrast.
I don’t like it very much. I find it very “expanded”. I like more the classical view, because it’s compact and i can see at a glance all the screen. But, agree with others that say that google apps need a new look.
I agree that more colors/contrast is needed. The scrolling bar on gmail is handy but I have yet to get out of the habit of scrolling to the bottom to use the buttons there. I assume it’s only a matter of time until theme’s are available for the new look and that will solve the color issue.
How about these tabbed inboxes? I think I would use them more if there were keyboard shortcuts… Unless they exist and I’m unaware